When it’s sink or swim: Photos of fish with sores may raise concern about long-term environmental effects of the massive BP oil spill, but federal health officials say the Gulf seafood that’s on the market is safe to eat. After all, diseased fish aren’t allowed to be sold, says Dr. Robert W. Dickey, who heads the Food and Drug Administration’s Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory. “It’s important to emphasize that we’re talking about a low percentage of fish,” Dickey stresses. “It doesn’t represent a seafood safety hazard.” Two years after the oil spill, scientists cite lesions and other deformities in some Gulf fish as a sign of lingering environmental damage. They can’t say for sure what’s causing the fish ailments or if there really are more sick fish today than in the past. The Associated Press has compiled a brief Q&A on seafood safety that you can check out here.
Fixing a hole: Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top budget adviser says he doesn’t know how large a hole is left in next year’s budget since changes were made to the governor’s retirement proposals. Jindal is asking lawmakers to push back the retirement age and boost their pension costs for rank-and-file state employees. His budget proposal included savings that agencies could reap from the changes. But after running into resistance for the ideas, the governor agreed to rework the measures—including one change that will direct the increased payments by workers to pay down retirement fund debt, rather than to lessen state department costs. Senators combing through next year’s budget asked Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater how much those changes leave the budget out of balance. Rainwater says analysts are still trying to determine the impact.
There’s a brand-new gimmick every day: Louisiana businesses have been alerted to the existence of a scam involving the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Officials say a person recently went into a business in the New Orleans area, claimed to represent the Department of Children and Family Services, and asked to update the machines that take the electronic benefit transfers associated with the food stamp program. Secretary Ruth Johnson says the department rarely visits businesses in person and does not service EBT machines in any way. She notes that a private contractor is responsible for servicing the machines and federal partners handle the retailer application process. Johnson is urging businesses to contact the agency toll-free, at 888-524-3578, if anyone claiming to represent DCFS visits unannounced or raises suspicions.
